The Bully’s Pulpit 0
Sasha Abramsky joins the ranks of the optimists.
But something’s changed over the past months. Trump’s bullying tactics may no longer work. Where his antics once inspired fear, they now increasingly inspire mockery and fierce opposition.
Purists on Parade 0
Shorter Dick Polman: The perfect is the enemy of the good.
Aside:
At this point, I pay no attention to who wants the Democratic nomination for President.
But my disdain for the “I agree with 90% of your positions but once you said something that hurt my fee-fees so I’m taking my vote and going home” crowd remains undiluted.
Also, any Democratic nominee is certain to be better than every Republican nominee, regardless of his or her flaws.
Vote in the real world, for Pete’s sake.
Russian Impulses 0
Shaun Mullen explores Mitch McConnell’s ties to Russia. A snippet:
Follow the link to learn more about the vice of the turtle.
Disparate Treatment, The Politics of Fear Dept. 0
At AL.com, long-time Republican lobbyist John Meredith, who has been named as one of the country’s 100 most influential Black Republicans, argues that our current state of political paralysis stems from fear and the exploitation of fear for political gain. He goes on to suggest that some fears are more important than others.
A snippet:
By comparison, if you fear illegal immigration, terrorism or drugs — bread and butter GOP issues, your fear must be addressed even if it means shutting down the federal government.
The column is worth your while.
Meanwhile, Off the Radar . . . 0
. . . our local NOAA weather station’s radar is broken (that’s the one linked to over there—->, on the sidebar), and, due to the Trumpian temper tantrum, repairs are blowing in the wind.
It Can Happen Here 0
Indeed, the writer of a letter to the editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggests that it already has.
Aside:
The Republican Party has chosen unilaterally to abrogate the social contract.
Q. E. D.
Food for Naught 0
Farron discusses how the Trumpian temper tantrum is starting to take food out of the mouths of the hungry.
Honest to Pete, this is the Presidency of mean for the sake of mean.
The Little Smirk 0
The Native American speaks. A snippet:
And, as John Cole points out, it looks like the little smirk is going to get away with it.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Be polite to our four-legged friends.
(snip)
It’s not deer season, so that rules out a mistake. Also, the horse was far from the road, so the shooter had to come onto private property to fire the fatal shot.
The filly was shot at close range, killed with a single .22-caliber bullet to the heart.
Wall-Eyed Piker, One More Time 0
Gary Drummond discusses former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean’s suggestion of a “compromise” on Donald Trump’s wall, noting a point that many who are making similar proposals overlook: this is a hostage situtation, not a negotiation. A snippet:
IoT = “Internet of Targets” 0
In a demonstration of the wonders of internet connected everything . . . .
(snip)
After many panicked minutes and phone calls to 911 and to Nest, the couple learned they likely were the victims of a hacker. And that panic turned to anger when they found out that Nest knew that there had been a number of such incidents — none involving nuclear strike scenarios — but failed to alert customers. Lyons said a Nest supervisor told them Sunday they likely were the victims of a “third party hack” that gained access to their camera and its speakers. The company did not return a request for comment Monday.
One more time, “because you can” is not in and of itself a sufficient reason for doing something.
Much more at the link.